Always Be Prepared: Using
Evidences for Outreach
Kedron E. Jones
Apologetics Research Society
www.evidenceforchristianity.org
A Brief History of Philosophy
• Philosophers have attempted to answer four
foundational questions in life.
A Brief History of Philosophy
• Questions about Epistemology (i.e., How do
we know what we know is true?).
A Brief History of Philosophy
• Questions about Metaphysics (What is the
origin of the universe?).
A Brief History of Philosophy
•
Questions about Ethics (i.e., What is good
and what is evil?).
A Brief History of Philosophy
• Questions about Laws of Logic (Reasoning
conducted according to strict principles of
validity)
A Brief History of Philosophy
• Everyone has a philosophy of life called a
worldview.
What Is A Worldview?
• A Worldview is a lens through which we see
the world.
• We all have a worldview (even if you don’t
think you have one).
Worldviews In Conflict
• “A worldview is a network of presuppositions
which are not tested by natural science and in
terms of which all experience is related and
interpreted.”
-Greg L. Bahnsen-
Worldviews In Conflict
• Stoic Philosophers vs. Epicurean Philosophers
Worldviews In Conflict
Proverbs 26:4-5
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or
you will be like him yourself.”
“Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will
be wise in his own eyes.”
Worldviews In Conflict
A Checklist for Defending The Faith
Key Intellectual Sins Committed By People:
1. Arbitrariness: Something based on random
choice or personal whim, rather than any
reason or system.
2. Inconsistencies: Acting at variance with one’s
own principles or former conduct.
A Checklist for Defending The Faith
Ask yourself the question when dialoguing with
the unbeliever, “Is this argument arbitrary?”
1. Mere Opinion: Opinions are just opinions,
they are not truth.
2. Relativism: “That’s true for you but not for
me.”
3. Ignorant Conjectures: A guess or
assumption based on ignorance.
4. Unargued Bias: Even if you show that the
Bible is consistent he dismisses miracles.
A Checklist for Defending The Faith
Ask yourself the question when dialoguing with
the unbeliever, “Are there logical fallacies?”
1. Look for contradictory beliefs: On one hand
your professor believes that our behavior is
determined by antecedent factors and is
predicable, yet when you take a test in his
class he trust that you will freely choose not
to cheat.
A Checklist for Defending The Faith
Ask yourself the question when dialoguing with
the unbeliever, “Are there logical fallacies?”
2. Look for behavior that betrays his beliefs:
Someone may argue that there are no moral
absolutes and then condemn murderers and
rapist.
Case Studies
Epistemology (How do we know what we
know?)
“Science proves everything eventually, and
your denying that is just funny and sad at the
same time.”
http://forum.thatfatatheist.com/topic/8913172/1/
Case Studies
Metaphysics (What is the origin of the
universe? What’s man’s place in the world)
“Free will is an illusion. Our wills are simply not
of our own making. Thoughts and intentions
emerge from background causes of which
we are unaware and over which we exert no
conscious control. We do not have.”
-Sam Harris, Free Will
Case Studies
Ethics (i.e., What is good and what is evil?).
“Right and wrong are a matter of opinion, and
as a result, at the end of the day, their
intentions are the only thing that matters.”
http://www.fighunter.com/index.php?page=com
ment_single&c=52473
Case Studies
Laws of Logic (Reasoning conducted
according to strict principles of validity).
Guilt By Association: Rejecting someone’s
argument because of the person’s friends,
religion and etc.
Example: “I think all Christians are hypocritical,
after all look at what happened during the
Inquisition!”
The Real Problem With Unbelievers
• It is an issue of the heart (Romans 1:18-25).
• It is an issue of their worldview.
• Not an issue of a lack of evidence for the
God of Christianity.
Summary
• The problem between the believer and
unbeliever isn’t an issue of facts, it is an
issue of worldviews.
• All worldviews attempt to answer the four
major questions in life.
• Show the unbeliever the consequences of
living it out his worldview.
“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe?
Where is the disputer of this age? Has not
God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
Questions & Answers